If you went to school in the US, you've undoubtedly learned the ins and outs of our government and electoral process — perhaps more than once. But if you're like me, and yesterday's lessons are fleeting like favorable satisfaction polls, you may need to brush up on some important political lingo. Here are some election-related terms you might want to know before you complete your ballot in November.
Caucus: A meeting at the local level in which members of a political party in that area discuss the support of a candidate. During the presidential election, the parties will round up the caucus recommendations to determine each state's nominee. A caucus can also consist of party members — the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, for example — who join together to advance their interests.
Convention bounce: A sharp increase in a presidential candidate's popularity in the days immediately following the party's national convention, which secures the party's nomination.
Divided government: A situation that occurs when at least one chamber of Congress (the House of Representatives or Senate or both) is controlled by the party opposite the sitting president's.
Electoral base: The groups of people who will normally vote for a candidate often out of party loyalty or because of shared gender, ethnicity, religion, geography, ideology, or other variables.
If becoming a better cook is one of your 
Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of patches of skin or nails due to ramped-up melanin production, resulting in blotchy looking skin, "raccoon" under-eye circles, and uneven skin tone. Although hyperpigmentation is common across the board, it's especially prevalent in women of South Asian, East Asian, Mediterranean, or African heritage — so almost everyone. 
Ambergris is whale intestinal secretions, but you'd never know how gross it is from its high profile in the world of perfumery. An excellent fixative with a sweet, earthy scent, the stuff has a long history of association with fragrance — and whale killling. 
The great likelihood is that if you've heard of an otto, it's been 
If you're 
French for "hazelnut butter," beurre noisette (pronounced "bur nwah-zet") is butter that has been cooked until it has a golden brown color and a nutty flavor. Contrary to its name, this sauce, which has been used by French chefs since medieval times, does not actually contain hazelnuts. Before serving, it's often strained through a fine sieve to remove darkened milk solids, and acid (such as lemon) may be added to cut through some of its rich flavor. 
Grissini are long, pencil-thin Italian breadsticks made from flour, water, and salt. They originated in Turin, Italy, during the 14th century, where a certain version, grissini torinese, which are thicker, longer, and twisted by hand, are still popular today. 
